Project Management Institute - Australia Conference 25 to 27 May 2015

Industry leaders from the private and public sectors learned of the potential cost-savings Project Management offers when organisations align strategy with implementation, at the recent Project Management Institute launch in Brisbane.

According to the 2015 PMI “Pulse of the Profession” Global Survey, which surveyed 2,800 Project practitioners, high performing organisations are adhering to proven project, program and portfolio management process.

This achievement is being measured through reduced costs and risks, greater alignment of goals with business intent, and overall higher success rates of projects and programs. Higher performing organisations are several times more likely to be successful with implementing change than those with lower project management knowledge and maturity. The reason for this is primarily attributed to the lack of understanding of the value that project management delivers to their business.

President of the Project Management Institute Qld Chapter, Mr David Wright said when projects fail businesses are impacted.  Organisations will perform at their peak, if they invest in the culture, talent and processes of project, program and portfolio management.

“Project professionals can add great value to C-level management through strategy as well as implementation.  There is a slow uptake of this in Australia, compared to the rest of the world, but we are making progress,” said Mr Wright

 

The recent appointment of Dr Alicia Aitken as Chief Project Officer for Telstra, Finance & Strategy is an excellent example of this. Dr Aitken is responsible for ensuring Telstra has the capability to deliver on its capital portfolios across the world.  This is the first role of its kind established in Australia and a significant boost for women in Project Management.

 

Organisations that invest in qualified and skilled talent are fostering a culture that values project management. The 2015 Pulse Findings show that on average, talent deficiencies significantly hamper 40 percent of strategic implementations.

 

“Having the right people with the right balance of skills and qualifications is the only way to succeed. Organisations need to invest in development and training to achieve superior project strategy and performance. Transferring knowledge across the organization is a critical organizational competence and one that needs to be imbedded into an organization’s DNA to create real cultural change.

 

“So too Project Practitioners need to be responsible for their own professional development.

Our upcoming national conference in Brisbane on the 25 May is an excellent opportunity. We’re bringing together a suite of internationally renowned experts and national leaders to speak on global trends and issues.  Practitioners will learn about world’s best practices, upskill and share insights with peers,” Mr Wright said.

 

The PMI Australia Conference will also examine issues such as sustainability and climate change with one of the world’s top 100 sustainability leaders, Professor and Engineer David Hood AM. 

 

Speaking at the launch of the PMI Australia conference, Professor Hood discussed how public and private sectors could deliver positive outcomes for the environment and society.

 

The key turning point for Professor Hood came when he project commissioned Australia’s then New Parliament House in the mid 1980s. Professor Hood implemented many measures to improve the energy efficiency in the building.  Since then, he has been championing a culture of sustainability across all engineering disciplines, and the built environment.

 

During the launch, Professor Hood spoke about the existential risks to society resulting from a range of forces including global warming, endless economic growth and the explosion of Earth’s population.

 

According to Professor Hood, we need to move from a green to a blue economy.  We are successfully implementing many measures to reduce the impact on the environment by improving our energy efficiency. Now we need to focus on developing new industries and measures to regenerate lost natural and social capital; in effect creating a blue economy. 

 

“Project Managers have a responsibility to inform Board members of the risk to their projects from these global issues. As we move towards a blue economy, Practitioners are crucial to ensuring that the strategic elements of projects are successfully implemented,” said Professor Hood.

 

At the upcoming PMI Australia Conference, Professor Hood will be speaking on risks to industries from a number of external forces and impacts which practitioners need to be aware of to ensure that these are accurately factored into projects.

 

Also speaking at the recent launch was Neil Barr, Brisbane Delivery Centre Manager for Aurecon, an international consulting firm providing global programme, project and engineering management services.  Mr Barr spoke about the role of project and program managers in delivering cost efficiencies to infrastructure projects.  Aurecon is the platinum sponsor for the 2015 PMI Australia Conference and is committed to supporting the Project Management Institute assist its members develop their professional qualifications and deliver added value to private and public organisations.

2015 PMI Australia Conference will be held on the 25-27^th May at the Brisbane Convention Centre.  It will feature internationally renowned speakers including: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez Vice Chairman of PMI’s International Board of Directors, and Director Head of PMO at GlaxoSmithKline vaccines (Belgium);Agnieszka Gasperini, PMI’s Mentor to Central European Chapters;Dennis Grant, the CEO of allaboutXpert, the largest independent Project Management Company in South Africa.  Australian industry experts and leaders include: Ann Sherry AO, CEO, Carnival Cruises,and Bernard Salt, Demographer, KPMG Partner & Columnist, The Australian, Graham Quirk Lord Mayor of Brisbane, David Hood, AM, 2012 National President of Engineers Australia, Sustainability Leader and Adjunct Professor Sustainability at QUT; and

Dr Alicia Aitken, Telstra’s Chief Project Officer, Finance & Strategy.

 

A key component of the PMI Australia Conference will be an awards ceremony included in the gala dinner, acknowledging best projects and the significant contribution made to women in project management.  For the complete programme of speakers and sessions please go to pmiac.org.au/.

 

Ends.

 

 

To arrange an interview please contact:

 

Adriana Summers

Media Consultant for PMI Australia Conference

Ph: 0423568626

summers@backtobasicscommunication.com.au